Live Review: Bootleg Rascal, The Architect

What is it about reggae? For some reason, it just gets everyone dancing, and no one really cares that you don't know all the words to the song you're dancing to. 

Playing in a small intimate venue, halfway down Oxford street, The Architect seemed right at home. The entire set consisted of just one man on stage, with a guitar, his voice, a loop pedal and several backing tracks. This, coupled with the cosy venue, made it feel as though you weren't watching a performer onstage, but rather an artist in his bedroom – which was brilliant. He mashed mellow, melodic reggae with smooth hip hop to create a warm atmosphere in the bar, and really set the mood for the rest of the night. 

Bootleg Rascal were able to capture this mood and keep it going. They play a brand of music that is exceptionally relaxed. Their sound lands somewhere between Sydney locals Sticky Fingers and '90s ska lords Sublime. And it works. Watching them was like sitting on a tropical island and just letting each song roll over you like a wave. Their performance, despite the floral shirts, the moustaches and the bar you've probably never heard of, was surprisingly unpretentious. As they played through their set, you couldn't help but tap your foot along. That tap was infectious and soon your legs were moving too, and before long you weren't sitting at the back of the bar watching some band, but were instead grooving along on the dancefloor. Sydney's reggae scene seems to be developing into something quite significant, and with bands like these sprouting up, it is definitely a space that should be watched.